Dental sleep medicine helps patients who may snore or have sleep apnea. Working in combination with your sleep physician, oral appliances can be a safe, comfortable and effective way to alleviate snoring and the symptoms of sleep apnea.
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Everyone is familiar with the hoarse, raspy sounds of snoring that occur when your airway is partially obstructed during sleep. Many dental patients have a concern about their snoring. Most of the patients who ask aren’t bothered by their own snoring, but their spouse or significant other is kept awake by it and is encouraging them to find a solution. There are dental solutions to snoring that are professionally designed, fit, and monitored by your dentist.
Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing stops periodically during sleep, as many as 100 times per hour! It is estimated that between 2-9 percent of middle-aged Americans suffer from sleep apnea. Snoring is often one of the many signs of sleep apnea. If you suffer from sleep apnea, each time your breathing stops, the resulting lack of oxygen alerts your brain, which temporarily wakes you up to restart proper breathing. Because the time spent awake is so brief, most people with sleep apnea don’t remember it – and many think they are getting a full night’s sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common form of sleep apnea, which occurs when throat muscles relax.
Do you or a family member:
Untreated sleep apnea may have the following consequences:
Oral appliances are worn during sleep and designed to gently move the lower jaw forward. This forward motion opens the airway and holds the base of the tongue forward, making breathing easier. Patients find these appliances very comfortable to wear and easier than a CPAP machine, often with equivalent results and a reduction of their symptoms. For many people, oral appliances can be used as an alternative to a CPAP.
There are now studies demonstrating that oral appliances are over 95% effective in overcoming snoring. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends oral appliance therapy as an effective treatment for patients suffering from mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.
Dentists are one of the most important providers of sleep apnea therapy, often collaborating with physicians, psychologists, technicians, and therapists to help patients overcome their sleep disorders.
Dr. Hunt offers no-fee consultations and he and his team pride themselves on personalized services and fantastic results. Dr. Hunt is a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM) and has worked with many patients and their physicians to help manage their snoring and sleep apnea. He will work with you to find the right solution for you. Contact Dr. Hunt at 252-316-2214 or send us an email.